Dozens
of people have signed a petition calling on Somerset County Council
to halt the possible closure of Highbridge Library.

The
petition is available to sign
online here and has attracted over 80 signatures in the space
of a week.

The
'Save Highbridge Library' campaign group held a protest outside
County Hall in Taunton last week with around 30 union members.

Dave
Chapple, Secretary of Bridgwatwer Trades Union Council, said: "The
local campaign group aims to maximise the pressure on Somerset County
Council to ensure Highbridge Library remains open as a professional
and directly staffed facility."

He
adds: "It is vital that this campaign is as broadly-based as
possible. We want everyone in Highbridge who cares about their library
service, regardless of political affiliation, to support it."

One
of the protesters, Sheila Forrester from Highbridge, says: "Some
people can't get to another library as they haven't got the money
to do so. Highbridge needs a library - it's only open part-time
and it isn't going to be a big saving to the council to shut it."

"It
is an area of deprivation with the second highest deprivation in
the country, so it has a good case."

A report
considered by county councillors says the cutbacks are expected
to deliver between £300,000 and £520,000 of annual savings
across Somerset.

Somerset
County Council says that Highbridge Library has a catchment population
of 6,786 people, but it has just 288 active borrowers, and an annual
footfall of 3,786 people. The council's consultation on the future
of how its library services can be accessed is online at: www.somerset.gov.uk/librariesconsultation.

Pictured:
The protest in Taunton last week (photos Andy Mitchell)

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